Author's Note

Just for first part ref read

⚠ WARNING: For Custodes Solaris eyes only ⚠

, hope you enjoy !

Chapter 12 - The Locked! Yet Not Forgotten?

“Run… leave me… run…” Tesla’s voice was faint, strained, the words barely reaching her. “It’s not…”

Through the haze, she saw him - the Solar Guard, his armor gleaming ominously in the firelight, his gaze fixed on her with a fury that burned through the thick smoke. His eyes, fiery orange and alive with an almost feral intensity, seemed to glow, piercing through the smoke that surrounded them.

Luna tried to form any barrier with her magic, using all she could to defend herself and Tesla, but her magic felt heavy and sluggish. Fear was overtaking her body and mind yet again. By now the vibrant orange faded, dulling into an inky blackness that spread outward from his pupils like spilled ink, consuming the colour until nothing remained but a void. Thin, razor sharp white slits appeared in the darkness, staring past her physical self and into her soul. The white pulsed faintly, as if alive, shifting and narrowing.

The sight of those slitted freezing her in place, as a stabbing pain shot through her head like a rusty needle being impaled int the temple of her head.

But as she opened her eyes , the image twisted, morphing into something else. The Solar Guard was gone, replaced by a large figure , a knight in dark onyx armor, unlike any creature she had ever seen.

Large for a pony, yet small for a miniature. The figure sat on the ground, his broad frame encased in Black Onyx armor. His lower limbs were ..strange? not seen anything alike by Luna ... or hard for her to remember seeing anything like this.

His face remained obscured, but his eyes... those icy blue eyes pierced through the shadows, unrelenting, cold, yet calming , They held her, freezing her in place, any words she tried to form caught in her throat, lost beneath the pressure building up in her mind. The rising hum echoed in her ears, a deafening sound that pressed down on her from all sides.

Then, just as she thought she might drown in that gaze, his eyes began to change.

The blue faded, just like the Solar Guards firry gaze, his too was replaced by a void like blackness, darker than his Armor, with thin, glowing white slits cutting through like the edges of a blade. The darkness seemed to pulse, to grow, until it swallowed everything, leaving her alone in a void filled only with those cold, merciless eyes.

‘Find me…’

“Luna?”

A voice broke through, shattering the vision. Luna blinked, find herself disoriented. She looked around, her surroundings slowly coming into focus. She was in the castle’s private dining hall, sunlight streaming in through the tall windows, bathing the room in warmth and light.

Across from her sat Celestia, watching her with quiet concern, her pastel mane flowing softly as if caught in an invisible breeze. “Sister, are you alright?” she asked again.

For a moment, Luna struggled to remember where she was, to shake off the remnants of the vision that clung to her. She forced herself to breathe, to ground herself in the present.

“We..I… yes, I’m fine”

She looked past Celestia, catching sight of Cadance beside her, sitting quietly with a soft, concerned gaze.

Celestia leaned forward, her expression soft but cautious.

“Luna, I know this has been a trying time, but it’s important that we understand what happened. Do you remember anything? You just froze , do you require more rest?”

Luna shook her head.

“No..as I said… don’t remember much.”

She refused to meet her sister’s gaze, ‘just another mask’.

“Of course, of course, Sister. Sometimes, after an experience like that, memories can resurface. If you need help processing it, we can arrange for somepony to speak with you.”

‘So there it us’ Luna thought

“I don’t need a Mind Healer, im not insane” she said, her voice colder than she intended, earning worrying look from cadence, “I told you, I don’t remember”.

Celestia exchanged a brief glance with Cadance, who had remained silent until now.

“Luna, Mr Rhalgor is a counsellor and the best one at that. Please give him another try, I also had problems before, but...”

Luna’s eyes narrowed, and she felt a sharp edge rise in her chest.

“I don’t need some feather-brained griffkin telling me how to sort through my own thoughts!!”

she spat, putting her hooves on the table and flaring her wings out.

The temperature in the room seeming to drop as Cadance’s eyes widened. Celestia’s smile faltered, replaced by a flash of anger that Luna hadn’t seen in a long time. Her sister’s usual grace wavered, the warmth in her demeanor vanishing.

“LUNA!” Celestia rose from her pillow, her voice suddenly stern, cutting through the tension. “That’s enough. Griffins are our allies. We’ve been at peace with them for generations, and I won’t tolerate such dirty language in my presence!”

Luna could feel the heat rising in her chest, her frustration bubbling to the surface. She didn’t mean the words to come out so harsh , but Celestia’s reaction and the last few days felt like a slap across the face.

“Peace?”

she scoffed, her tone mocking. “Is that what you call it? Peace, where they meddle in our affairs? Where they send their counselors to judge us - judge me?!”

Celestia’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Mr. Rhalgor is not here to judge you. He is a respected professional one of the best, that I personally have invited, and he has helped many and will help you. We all had mistakes but thats before. And right now, you're acting like...”

“What? A Lunatic?” Luna snapped, rising to her hooves. “A danger to your precious peace?” The words were spilling out now, no longer held back by her restraint. “Is that why you’re coddling me, like some fragile thing that might shatter under pressure? Is that how you see me now, Celestia? A risk to Equestria?”

Celestia stood abruptly, her own towering presence overshadowing the table. Her calm, regal composure cracked, her wings flaring slightly as her voice took on a cold, sharp edge. “No, Luna. You are not a risk. But the way you’re speaking, the way you’re pushing everyone away, it’....”

“It’s what?” Luna’s voice rose in pitch. “Madness? Is that what you’re implying?”

“Stop twisting my words,” Celestia snapped, her patience wearing thin. “This isn’t about madness...”

“I don’t need help, Celestia,” Luna snarled, cutting her off, her wings flaring now in frustration. “You helped me enough by ERASING my memories”

The room fell silent. Cadance, who had been sitting quietly through most of the exchange, shifted uneasily, her eyes darting between the two sisters and the double doors in the far end of the room.

Celestia’s eyes widened, her anger flaring as Luna’s accusation hit her like a blow.

“Erasing your memories? Is that what you think I did?!”

Her voice was sharp now, the calm, regal facade fully shattered.

“I have done nothing against you, Luna. Everything I’ve done has been to help you, to protect you from your self!”

Luna stood tall with her body aching, her wings still flared, her chest heaving.

“Protect me?” she spat, her voice venomous. “You call this protection? You use my “Episodes” to keep me in the dark about our past! MY past!”

Celestia’s wings flared wider, her frustration boiling over. “I have always acted in the best interest of Equestria! You...” She cut herself off, her face tightening with rage, before she hissed through clenched teeth, “You are my sister, but you do not understand, you need time ....”

Luna’s eyes blazed, her voice shaking with fury.

“oh so now im a Burden? Don’t lecture me about “time” , Celestia. I have lived a thousand years in isolation without knowledge of why I was there!”

“I did what I had to do!”

Celestia shouted, her voice ringing through the room, startling even Cadance, who flinched at the outburst.

“Do you think it was easy for me? To banish you, to live with that pain every day?! I have spent every moment since your return trying to make things right between us, but you continue to push me away!”

“WE PUSH THOU?!” Luna’s voice roared using up her little magic reserves. “Thou promised to stand by us! To be at our side as we returned to our role as Princess! But where were you when you sent us to that Muppet council of yours?! With little as I remember , you saying NO to us wasn’t such difficulty ”

Celestia’s face tightened, a mixture of anger and guilt flashing across her features. “Luna, you know that I placed such council for a reason, to ensure that my own judgment wouldn’t be over clouded , I trusted that...”

“You trusted us to fail!” Luna’s voice cracked, the raw pain slipping through her anger. “Everypony was watching, waiting for us to stumble, to prove that we didn’t belong. And you, the only one we thought we could count on, wasthe one that sent us in without informing that you made the decision”

Celestia opened her mouth to respond but closed it just as quickly.

“I never meant to abandon you, I told you I didn’t have a voice in this. There are rules that even we should follow” Celestia said finally, her voice quieter, strained.

Luna’s gaze hardened, her heart pounding in her chest. “And yet, you always find time for them. For your precious council, your diplomats. But when it comes to us, your own … there is never enough.”

“But you must understand, Lulu…”

“My sister called me that... I see even less resembles between you and her now.”

Celestia’s face softened, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow.

“Your episodes, your memory lapses… you’re not well, and I cannot stand by and watch you destroy yourself! If you won’t accept help, I’ll have no choice but to intervene.”

The words struck Luna like a blow, her breath catching in her throat. “Intervene? You mean you’ll force more on me or shut me into another prison? Strip me of my power and lock me away? Is that what you want?”

“No” Celestia’s , mask of the calm returned, composed ruler slipping entirely. “I don’t want to do that, Luna. But I will if you leave me no other choice I will have to act more harshly”

Before Luna could fire back, the door to the chamber swung open, and Captain Brightwing entered, his armor gleaming as he bowed low. “Your Highness,” he said, his voice formal but steady, “the council is waiting for you and the report about the incident will be ready by the end of today your Highness”

The tension in the room didn’t dissipate, it merely shifted, hanging heavy in the air as Celestia turned her head sharply toward the captain. Her eyes narrowed, but she held her temper. “Thank you, Captain,” she said, her voice clipped. “Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”

Luna’s gaze snapped to the captain, her eyes flashing with suspicion. While his eyed her dangerously.

As the captain retreated from the room, Celestia’s posture shifted. She looked back to Luna, her expression no longer one of anger, but of deep disappointment. “This conversation isn’t over, Luna,” she said quietly, though her voice still carried the weight of her authority. “But I have duties to attend to.”

Luna said nothing as she stood and walked out the door.

A low, frustrated growl escaped Luna’s muzzle as she stormed into her chamber, bucking the door closed with a loud thud, her hooves striking the polished stone floor with each angry step. The room was dark, lit only by the faint glow of blue crystals embedded along the walls, casting an ethereal light that barely chased the shadows away. Heavy, dark curtains hung over the windows, pulled tightly shut, keeping the sunlight at bay. The furniture was carved from dark wood, intricate designs etched into the surface, all revolving around the moon and stars.

Without a second thought, she seized a delicate porcelain vase from a nearby table with her magic, its painted lilies glinting in the dim light. With a sharp burst of power, she flung it across the room, watching as it struck the wall and shattered into fragments. The sound echoed around her, mingling with her labored breaths as pieces of porcelain scattered across the floor.

She stared at the wall where the vase had broken, her eyes drawn to a golden framed painting.

It was a portrait of herself and Celestia, standing together in a sunlit meadow. Celestia stood tall and serene, her expression radiating warmth, while Luna stood at her side, her face half in shadow, almost disappearing into her sister’s glow. It was an image of her first day back at the castle.

The fear in Luna’s teal eyes, barely concealed from her sister, she held the memory of all the unknowns she had faced that day. The hallways had felt unfamiliar, the ponies’ stares a mix of awe and trepidation. Even her own sister, with her gentle reassurances and warm smiles, had seemed distant, she was different in every way.

If before... at least when she remembered them together ... the height between the two would be only noticeable at a second glance, but here she was, taller, more powerful and more loved then ever...she stood beside Luna, as if nothing had changed, but Luna remembered the murmurs that stopped as soon as she entered a room. She had returned as a Princess , yet felt like an intruder in a home she barley remembered... ‘Curse those elements’.

“You think I’m unwell, do you?” she whispered bitterly, her voice taut with anger. Her magic flared, rattling the frame as if to shatter the painted perfection.

The room fell silent again, save for Luna’s sharp breaths . She glared at the portrait, her chest heaving, feeling as if her fury might consume her whole. “For a thousand years, thou kept this place, never faltering. Yet the moment we returned, every eye turned upon us in fear. Fear that we might shatter and thou just stayed by and watched.”

Luna’s breath hitched, her vision darkening as the room twisted around her. Shadows seemed to come alive, the walls bending and closing in, as if suffocating her. Her heart pounded, each beat swallowed by a rising, agonised wail that filled her ears.

She tried to ground herself, to push the darkness back, but as she looked around, parts of her chamber began to melt, dripping down in thick, dark rivulets that pooled at her hooves. The floor rippled, the dark gooey liquid creeping toward her, reaching as though to pull her under.

The shadows twisted into ghastly, hollow faces along the walls, their silent screams searing into her mind. She stumbled back, feeling her hooves sink slightly into the cold, viscous substance, her surroundings warping as the nightmare closed in.

“No… please, stop…” she whispered, but the screams only grew louder, pressing in from all sides, and with every sound, the room seemed to dissolve further into darkness, an endless void that beckoned to swallow her whole.

“No… no, not again…” she whispered, but her words barely reached her own ears. Her magic flared uncontrollably, crackling and surging out from her horn in dark, twisted tendrils that dripped like ink to the floor. Each drop hissed upon contact, spreading into a dark mist that coiled and slithered, writhing like snakes across the cold stone. She tried to rein it in, but the magic resisted, pulsing against her efforts, spilling out in chaotic, seething waves.

“Help us, any pony help us!!”

All her words fell distorted and distant as the shadows began to dance, swirling up from the floor, clinging to the walls, warping the room into a nightmare. Luna’s body trembled, her legs weak beneath her as she stumbled forward, desperate for control. Her gaze darted to a dark oak desk, to the small black box resting there. The ring inside it would help it go away.

As she took a step forward, the screams transformed, splintering into agonised voices thousands of them, whispering, shouting, wailing. Faces began to form in the mist, twisted and hollow, their eyes wide with horror, their muzzles open in silent, eternal screams. She stumbled, her heart racing as the walls seemed to bleed with darkness, oozing shadows that reached for her, clawing and pulling, grasping at her like icy tendrils.

The magic on her horn grew stronger, searing and wild, sending waves of pain down her spine as it dripped uncontrollably, splattering the floor in violent bursts of black. Her head felt as if it might split open, the raw energy burning through her like fire.

“Celestia!” she gasped, staggering as she reached for the box. Her hoof trembled as it brushed the edge of the magic nullification ring, just within her hooves-

The room dissolved, powerful winds of snow and ice came and left before forcing her into a shadowed, cold chamber. The stale scent of earth filled her nostrils, a damp, heavy air that weighed down her breath. In the centre of the dimly lit dungeon, a lone figure sat bound by thick, gnarled roots that snaked down from the ceiling, anchoring him to the ground. The roots twisted over his arms and chest, biting into the dark armour that encased his massive frame. Just like back then the figure did not move, he was still tied

He lifted his head slowly, his eyes cutting through the darkness. Those icy blue she kept seeing for last few days burned into her. They bore into her, paralysing her, as if he could see beyond her very soul. Roots strained as he moved, his powerful arms flexing against their grip, but they held, tightening with a pulse that seemed almost alive, responding to his every movement.

Around him, shadows flickered like living things, the dim light barely revealing his form, a blend of metal and shadow. His face, mostly hidden behind the dark onyx helm, gave only a glimpse of the hard set of his jaw, a glimpse of pale skin beneath the metal.

“Find me…”

he whispered, his voice like a tremor in her bones, reverberating through the dark chamber. The words were both a plea and a command, filling her ears and echoing off the stone walls, threading through her thoughts like a seed taking root. His gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, she felt as though she was bound as he was, shackled in place by the force of his eyes alone.

Then, his eyes began to shift, darkening, the icy blue fading into a black void, an abyss with thin, white slits cutting through like blades of cold fire. His presence swelled, filling every shadow, expanding to consume the very air. The roots pulsed, tightening, but the darkness around him grew thicker, deeper, until it seemed to pour out from him, spreading across the floor like a living shadow, reaching out for her.

The chamber was swallowed by his presence, his blackened gaze the only light in the encroaching darkness.

Suddenly, his head snapped forward, his gaze searing into hers, and the words slammed through her one final time.

“Find me!”

Luna gasped as she jolted awake, her heart racing, her chest heaving, the vision still clinging to her like a waking nightmare.

(Knock Knock)

A sharp knock sounded at her door, cutting through the lingering echoes of his words. She stumbled to her hooves, feeling the last wisps of dark magic dripping from her horn, pooling onto the floor in faint, shimmering drops.

(Knock Knock Knock)

The knock came again, louder and more insistent.

She rushed to the door and pulling her mind back to reality, creaking the door open just a bit to see the figure on the other side, a royal Pegasus guard in his purple armor . He cast a concerned glance at Luna, trying to look behind her into her room, but the room was to dark to see in.

“Your Highness,” he said, bowing his head. “I was patrolling and… heard a disturbance.”

Luna straightened, struggling to keep her voice steady. “It was nothing, just… we tripped, all is calm now” she replied coolly, though her heart still pounded.

“Very well, Princess,” he said, inclining his head respectfully. “If you need anything else, I shall be here to assist”

As he turned to leave, Luna’s voice stopped him. “Wait.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

‘Okay maybe , just maybe I could find something there? Its not like there are a lot of dungeons, there should be something’

Adopting a more regal position and opening the door ever so slightly, she spoke in a more authoritive tone “Do the old dungeons still remain in Equestria?”

The guard blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “ dungeons, Princess?” He paused before answering, clearly taken aback by the question. “Not really, Your Highness” He scratched the back of his head, making his helmet slip forward just enough to break the magical illusion of his white fur, revealing a patch of natural, muddy brown beneath.

“The only one im aware is bellow the Canterlot castle, but they’ve been closed off for centuries. We keep them maintained, but they’re mostly used for storage now, old records and equipment. “

Luna’s eyes begin to sparkle “And who is tasked with their oversight now?”

“Officially, the Solar Guard is responsible for them. There are occasional tours for Schools trips and the like, though they’re closed off to the public for the most part.” He hesitated, then added, “The last tour group was a few weeks ago, I believe, but the area is rarely visited these days, why ... are you asking?... did I do something wrong?”

Luna nodded slowly ignoring the guards concern, her thoughts drifting back to the vision, to the dim, shadowed chamber and the figure bound by roots in a place that felt as real as any memory, she couldn’t have been there before, Canterlot castle was build after... that thing

“Thou hast our thanks” she said finally, her voice softened. “That will suffice.”

The guard gave her a final respectful bow, his gaze still puzzled and with hint of worry, before turning and taking his leave.

‘Find me’

It was no longer a mere suggestion it was a call, unyielding, impossible to ignore.

The guard had almost turned a corner in the corridor when Luna’s voice halted him again. “On second thought,” she called, “Thou shalt lead me to the dungeons”

The guard turned back, clearly caught off-guard. “The… dungeons, Your Highness?” He shifted, clearing his throat with an awkward cough. “I… I’m not exactly authorised to grant entry there. Only the Solar Guard captain can—”

Luna tilted her head, an amused smirk tugging at her lips. “Not authorised? We are a princess, good sir. Surely we do not require authorization to enter our own castle’s dungeons?”

He stammered, eyes widening. “I… well, yes, technically, Princess, but… protocols are in place for a reason, and—”

“Protocol?” Luna replied, feigning scandal. “And tell us, loyal keeper of protocol, what is thy name?”

The guard blinked, looking even more flustered. “Um… Hayseed Burrow, Your Highness,” he mumbled, barely meeting her eyes.

Luna’s expression brightened with mischief. “Then, Sir Hayseed Burrow,” she intoned grandly, “by the Moon and Stars, thou shalt escort us to the dungeons this instant.” She held her head high, her tone regal, her eyes sparkling with barely concealed amusement. Bringing her muzzle close to him she whispered, “will that be under protocol?”

The guard’s white cheeks turned bright red. “Well… as you wish, Princess,” he muttered, surrendering to her authority. “Please… follow me.”

“Excellent! Lead on, Sir Hayseed,” Luna said, falling into step beside him.

Deep in the shadows of the Canterlot dungeons, two Solar Guards sat hunched over a parchment, the light of their flickering lantern casting eerie shadows against the stone walls.

“Look at this one,” muttered Bright Light a bright orange unicorn with a gruff expression, tapping his hoof against the page. “‘Try 300 feet, dumb-ass?’” He squinted, looking utterly baffled. “What in the name of Celestia is a ‘feet’? Think he means ‘hooves’?”

Iron Wall, A older greyish coated pegasus with an amused smirk, snickered. “Who knows? Whatever it is, this creature thinks we’re the ones who need lessons on mana rifles.” He tapped another note. “‘Buck, fuck ’em?’” He frowned, scratching his head. “What’s a fuck?”

The Pegasus shrugged, shaking his head. “Probably one of their weird insults. As if we’d ever take his advice from that filth.” They both chuckled, but their laughter quickly faded as a firm knock echoed from the dungeon door.

The two solar guards straightened up, putting their golden helmets with white plumes , transforming their fur into clear white. Sharing a wary glance before opening the heavy door, only to be met with a sight they hadn’t expected. Standing just outside was none other than Princess Luna herself, her expression resolute, with her escort a nervous-looking Royal Guard looking between them and her.

“Your Highness,” stammered, giving a hasty bow. “This section of the dungeons is… restricted. Only Custodes Solaris have authority here.”

Luna arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Restricted? We are a princess. This is our castle. Surely our authority grants us access.”

Iron Wall took a step forward, holding his ground. “With all due respect, Princess, Custodes Solaris” he used the ancient term for the Solar Guard with pride “are obligated to follow the commands of Princess Celestia and our Captain alone. Without her explicit permission, we cannot let anypony enter.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed, frustration flickering across her face. After a pause, she turned to Hayseed, her expression softening as she looked him in the eye.

“Tell us, Hayseed Burrow,” she began in a steady voice, “are your orders not to protect Equestria and its royal family from any threat, no matter the cost?”

Hayseed gulped, glancing nervously between Princess Luna and the two Solar Guards, visibly flustered “Uh… yes, Your Highness. Th-that’s my sworn duty.”

“Then I trust you’ll uphold that duty?” she asked, a subtle smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

With a small, shaky nod, Hayseed said, “Yes, Princess. Of course” visibly deflating as he already anticipated what will happen next.

Luna gave a satisfied nod and turned, striding confidently past the two Solar Guards, her steps echoing through the dungeon corridor. Leaving the two more confused then anything.

The two solar guards exchanged alarmed looks, then moved to intercept her path. But just as they reached for her, Hayseed, his face set with a blend of nerves, stepped directly in their way and unfurled his wings with a dramatic snap, revealing a pair of gleaming wing blades strapped to his feathers.

“Uh… hold it right there, fellas,” he stammered, his wings outstretched in what he clearly hoped was an intimidating pose. “The princess has royal business down here. So I’ll… uh… be defending her.”

Iron Step blinked, holding back an amused grin. “Are you seriously blocking us, guard? We’re the Custodes Solaris.”

Hayseed’s feathers trembled slightly, but he cleared his throat, puffing out his chest. “I don’t reckon I care what kind of custodes y’all are. Princess said she’s goin’ through, so… so she’s goin’ through!” He swallowed, glancing briefly at Luna for reassurance, only seeing her walk deeper into the dungeons , before adding, “Now… uh… I’d appreciate it if we all kept this nice and… peaceful-like.”

Iron Wall rolled his eyes, giving Bright Light a weary look. “Look, we don’t want any trouble, but orders are orders.”

“Yeah, well… so are mine,” Hayseed replied, his voice shaky but somehow determined. “My duty’s to defend the princess and Equestria, so… so y’all will have to go through me to stop her.” He flared his wings a little wider, his face set in a mixture of bravery and barely concealed fear.

Bright Light sighed, glancing between Iron Step and Hayseed. “This is absurd. we’re all on the same side here. Do we really need to make this difficult?”

Hayseed gave a nervous chuckle, the blades at his wings shaking slightly. “Well… now that you mention it, I’d prefer we didn’t.” He lowered his voice, muttering mostly to himself, “Didn’t exactly plan on hoofing up two Custodes today…”

Iron Wall look at his companion , “Bright, ill be back with the captain asap , you make sure they...” pointing with his hoof at the direction of the two intruders “... dont mess anything up”.

“Will do...” Bright responded with annoyance, hoof facing himself with a groan.

Hayseed exhaled with relief, folding his wings back and giving the Solar Guards a shaky grin. “Guess ill follow, I think I need to bring our captain then?” Looking back the princess which gave a silent nod without looking back, but instead examining the door before her.

‘Hayseed Burrow you are the dumbest royal guard that ever lived!’

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing a dim, narrow corridor lined with offshoot rooms, each filled with stacks of crates and cobweb-covered shelves.

The air was thick with dust, undisturbed for years, save for the faint footprints left behind by Princess Luna and her reluctant escort, Bright Light, who at this very moment was following directly in her steps burning the back of Luna’s head with his glare.

Luna’s gaze swept over each empty room as they passed, old books covered by layers of dust as thick as them, opened crates revealing wooden training weapons and shields and finally at the end of the corridor her eyes landed on an imposing metal door at the end of the hall. Unlike the others, this door was marked with strange runes that upon her closer inspection still pulsed faintly along its edges. The heavy surface was coated in dust, though she immediately noticed faint streaks across it, as if it had been disturbed recently.

“What lies beyond this door?” Luna asked, her voice low as she traced her hoof over one of the glowing symbols feeling the faint evidence of magic.

Bright Light shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the door with a wary expression. “To be honest, Princess, nopony really knows. It hasn’t been used in ages, we shall wait for the return of Guards Pony Iron Wall to make a formal requested to open this door.”

Luna turned to him, one eyebrow raised. “And yet, somepony has been here recently...?” She gestured at the disturbed dust, her tone sharp. “So it hasn’t been left untouched, as you say.”

Bright Light cleared his throat, looking a little flustered. “Uh, well, maybe somepony checked on it, but… we’re usually told to leave this part of the dungeon alone... Princess I formally request that we wait until the Captain...”

Luna’s attention returned to the door, her curiosity deepening. She spotted a thick iron lock securing it shut, weathered but sturdy. Ignoring Bright Light’s apprehension, she summoned her magic, her horn glowing as she sent a focused beam toward the lock. The metal sizzled and began to melt, dripping onto the stone floor in a series of faint, smoky hisses.

Bright Light winced, shifting back. “Uh, Princess… you do realize that’s technically, uh… destruction of property?”

Luna gave him a calm, unimpressed glance. “The property belongs to the crown, does it not?”

Bright Light opened his mouth to argue, but quickly thought better of it, his ears drooping as he watched her work. With a final, loud crack, the lock fell away, pooling on the ground in a molten heap.

“Now would thou assist us?”
But as Luna turned around she only got a glimpse of the guard running away through the corridor ignoring her request and anything around him.

“and im being called a lunatic” Luna scoffed.

Pressing a hoof to the door and giving it a firm push, her eyes narrowing as it creaked open. Cold, stale air drifted out from the room...suffocating darkness following through.

Void of any windows, the air was thick with the stench of something rotten. As Luna stepped further in, she summoned a small orb of light at the tip of her horn, casting a dim, bluish glow across the chamber.

Her gaze swept over the sparse contents of the room. Bare stone walls enclosed the space on all sides, their surfaces cracked and damp. The floor was littered with odds and ends of few broken crates, an overturned wooden bench, and near her hoof, a grimy bucket whose contents emitted a foul, sour smell.

She cringed as she accidentally stepped into the bucket, green liquid spilling across the floor in thick, slimy tendrils. Her nose wrinkled at the smell, making her use all her inner power might not to extract her breakfast right now right here.

Straightening herself with a slight shudder, Luna let the light from her horn grow stronger, casting longer shadows that stretched across the floor and walls. And that’s when she noticed him.

Against the far wall sat a figure unlike any she had ever seen. He was tall, larger than any creature she knew, yet his form was hunched as though folded in upon himself. The strange being was bound tightly to the ground by thick, twisted roots, which curled around his limbs and chest, digging into the strange, fabric-like coverings draped over him. He had little furr , instead his skin was an unusual color pale, almost ghostly in the dim glow of her light.

His features were similar to her visions , but now fully exposed with little cloth covering him. A broad forehead shadowed by unruly waves of his brown mane, and a jaw set firmly, lined with stubble placks of brown furr. His minotaur like limbs were thin but muscular, folded at odd angles due to the binds, and his hands long, thin looking appendages with separate digits twitched slightly.

Luna took a tentative step forward, her voice echoing faintly in the chamber. “Who… are you?”

At last, as though finally acknowledging her presence, the creature lifted his head. Dark strands of hair split apart, revealing a pair of piercing blue eyes that caught the glow of her horn, reflecting it back with a startling intensity. His gaze was as cold and sharp as in her visions, yet now there was something else ... a glint of humor? faint but unmistakable, causing little spark to appear in his eyes.

He parted his lips, revealing a row of teeth that gleamed faintly in the dim light, the corners of his mouth curving into a slight, almost mocking smile. His voice, rough and rasping, breaking the silence.

“Well that depends ... who wants to know?”